The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1887-05-26

situation meant for both of us, |
think the poor wretch at the window
tainted; but the horrible dragging OF
his body on his poor manned hands
reused him directly. Trembling with
cold and commiseration, | sat watch
ing him, the tears rolling down my
cheeks. Oh, why had | refused Ted's
kind proposal to send Cousin Milly to
me? Why had | been so captious
about her dear little baby? Better a
room full of babies, all doing their
worst, than
But here l swooned, and fell, chair
and all, on the rug before the cold
crate, the fire having died out long
since.
Just on the hour OF three 1 became
conscious of a dull thud below, which
| knew to be q knock at the street
door. Hay listening, but rather lay
wondering vaguely what would happen
next than taking any interest in things
of this life, from which l seemed in q
manner to have fioated away.
After O. moment | heard steps plod-
ding up stairs, and aloud CHEEKY voice,
which | recognized as that of our old
friend, NJ. Joy, the carpenter, called
out:
"Hilloal Anybody at hcme!"
Coming to ourroom door, he knock
ed, and turned the handle, but of
course found it locked. Being unable
to speak, | yet tried to groan, and
made some inarticulate noises, but |
could hardly hope the old man heard
them, as he was somewhat deaf. AS
for my companion i'll misfortune, one
would suppose he would gladly have
hailed q prison as an escape from such
d plight as he was in, and so, no doubt,
he would, only he had no choice at
that moment, having gone off again
in q heavy swoon.
| heard the carpentergo down stairs,
and hopes of relief died away in my
breast. Oh, Joy, Joy, why did you
come to mock me thus? Two more
hours probably before Ted will be
home! Shall be alive by then? My
boand and aching limbs were on the
rack of pain; l lay and sobbed mIser-
ably. But bark A shout from the
back garden!
"What the dickens is all this?"
Again | heard the voice of Joy.
1t appeared that the carpenter, on
our room door and finding it
fastened, concluded we were all out,
but went around to the back of the
house ''to have q look at the winder"
which my brother had sent him to
mend-of course not expecting to find
it converted into a man-trap. He
had noticed while knocking at the
ioor, that the parlor wiodow was I'M
fastened, and, thinking it was unsafe
especially as Mrs. Brown was out, he
aad used his privilege as ouroldfriend
and hers to get through and fasten it
before coming: up stairs. No doubt
he thief hadi sntered the house by
way.
1t was not long before help came,
md the door was broken openy when
our misery was ended. L dare say,
prisons, were first built there
never was a, culprit who, walked into
all more meeklM than did the one who
lad intended torch my brother
They say the poor fellows hands
will never be right again; @%mputation
nay be necessary. as erysipelas is set
ing in. Well, ALL Iioan say is,, l freely
orgive him for the sufferi1g,. nsental
md bodily, he caused me-.
l was in bed for a fortnight but
ventually got all right again. Dear
Ted says | am a Brick, but that may
'e his Partially. Anyhow. my foot
tool provedtob ea very effective safe
70 this hour no one knows, about 1t
'ut you, Tediandimyself..